East End Grand Cayman Dive Op

[irishtn]

Do the afternoon trips with Ocean Frontiers. In my experience, you see more sharks in the afternoon, but it could just be me. I like the afternoon trips cause I spend the morning with my wife and 5 y.o. son, then by the time its ready for checkin, they are ready to go inside and relax, nap, etc so it works out pretty good. Then come home...ready for dinner and drinks.

 

[Mick911]

Normally I would say unless you are a beginner, stick with OF given Red Sail's rep. But if they have really changed for the better and I was staying at the Reef or Morritts, maybe I'd check them out. (I was at Morritt's last summer and dove with OF, as I had not heard anything different about RS at the point we booked.)

From the Reef you have to wander over to Morritt's next door, and even though I was staying there I'm still not sure what/where their current gear storage or handling situation is - I'd love if someone could describe? So it may or may not actually be any more convenient than driving a few minutes to Compass Point where they will clean/store your gear and have it waiting on the boat for you.)

IIRC OF used to do one tank trips in the afternoon but they changed to 2 tanks 1-2 years ago, and I'm pretty sure we did deep/shallow in the afternoon similar to the morning trips. (I'm just speculating but I'd guess they did this to increase capacity.) So while morning is still more popular, I think that's more a matter of freeing up the afternoons to do other things for some folks. Or maybe habit. But nothing wrong with sleeping in and doing the afternoon boats. Doing both am and pm boats there can be tight, so running back to your room between may not be on option if staying elsewhere. Not that you have that problem this time.

We were there when hurricane Ernesto went by and OF couldn't use their dock for a couple days. Think pretty much everyone lost at least a couple days of diving. As far as one being more sheltered than the other not really, just the luck of the draw.

I don' t understand the "given their rep" quote, but Tortuga Divers (Red Sail) have recently (since the new year) made a lot of changes with a new dive operations manager. They do use 80 and now have "luxuries" like towels and i believe hot chocolate (if the weathers off) on board. They have guest lockers on the end of the pier, where you board the boats, your gear is hung up to dry overnight, but its a sealed room, so your gear may not completely dry out. The dive shop is a new unit, rather than the old converted container, it's right next to the building site of the new block and has a small range of mask, fins and t shirts.

Hope that helps

 

[cdemith]

So I decided to take the chance. While sleeping in sounds good, I have never had afternoon dives as good as morning. That said, I have also never dived Cayman, so we'll see. Tortuga Divers it is. I will be sure to post a full review upon return. I hope it is glowing!

Thank you to all SBers. So many of you have helped me to plan various trips, and have answered many questions. I cannot speak highly enough of this community. From the newbs to the 5000+ posters, you guys are the best!

Thank you.

 

[releck97]

Good luck. Please report back to all of us.

 

[cdemith]

Full trip report to come, but had to comment on Tortuga Divers. They are awesome. I was nervous about them based on some comments on Red Sail, but they are very good. Red Sail at Westin for the Kittiwake was average. I have not been with Ocean Frontiers, but am very very happy with Tortuga. Reef Resort is also awesome. Only downside so far is food/drink prices. You guys weren't kidding!

 

[Scubanoobi]

I just got back from the Reef and tortuga / red sail, nothing but good things to say about them!